National Park Service approves new Crater Lake operator, ending Aramark’s tenure
A new concessioner is officially in place at Crater Lake National Park.The National Park Service announced Thursday that it has approved the transfer of the current concessions contract to Kansas-based hospitality company ExplorUS, ending the rocky tenure of Crater Lake Hospitality, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Aramark.Aramark faces a litany of serious accusations around its management of the park since 2018, including unsafe housing conditions, environmental hazards and public health code violations. An investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive, which analyzed 224 pages of federal reports and interviewed 15 former employees, showed years of systemic issues.In February, after the allegations came to light, the National Park Service announced its intention to terminate the contract with Aramark at Crater Lake. Less than a month later, Aramark struck a deal with ExplorUS to take over the contract, which is set to end in 2030.The National Park Service said the new operator will immediately take over the primary visitor services at Crater Lake, including Crater Lake Lodge, the Mazama Campground, all public dining areas, gift shops and the boat tours. In a news release, park officials said they are “striving for a seamless transition of services but ask for flexibility and patience from park visitors.”“We look forward to working with ExplorUS as they invest in facilities, staff training, visitor services, and other improvements to make visitors’ and employees’ experiences at Crater Lake even better,” Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Craig Ackerman said in the release.The National Park Service did not specify whether ExplorUS would be taking over the employee dormitories, the source of many complaints during Aramark’s tenure, nor did the agency say whether employees would still be living in the Rim Dormitory, which received a score of zero out of five in its 2023 inspection.Neither park officials nor ExplorUS immediately responded to requests for more information Thursday.In a statement released in March, ExplorUS CEO Frank Pikus said the company is “committed to working with the National Park Service to enhance and protect the visitor experience” at Crater Lake.According to the company, ExplorUS runs hospitality operations at more than 50 locations across the U.S., including Muir Woods in California, Acadia National Park in Maine and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. It also operates in state parks, national forests and other outdoor recreation areas, including campgrounds in Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest.ExplorUS previously said it plans to transition all current Crater Lake Hospitality employees to its company, and intends to offer all visitor services this summer. The company also intends to honor all reservations and deposits for future stays.Information about available park services will be posted online at nps.gov/crla.--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Hospitality company ExplorUS will take over the contract, effective immediately.
A new concessioner is officially in place at Crater Lake National Park.
The National Park Service announced Thursday that it has approved the transfer of the current concessions contract to Kansas-based hospitality company ExplorUS, ending the rocky tenure of Crater Lake Hospitality, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Aramark.
Aramark faces a litany of serious accusations around its management of the park since 2018, including unsafe housing conditions, environmental hazards and public health code violations. An investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive, which analyzed 224 pages of federal reports and interviewed 15 former employees, showed years of systemic issues.
In February, after the allegations came to light, the National Park Service announced its intention to terminate the contract with Aramark at Crater Lake. Less than a month later, Aramark struck a deal with ExplorUS to take over the contract, which is set to end in 2030.
The National Park Service said the new operator will immediately take over the primary visitor services at Crater Lake, including Crater Lake Lodge, the Mazama Campground, all public dining areas, gift shops and the boat tours. In a news release, park officials said they are “striving for a seamless transition of services but ask for flexibility and patience from park visitors.”
“We look forward to working with ExplorUS as they invest in facilities, staff training, visitor services, and other improvements to make visitors’ and employees’ experiences at Crater Lake even better,” Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Craig Ackerman said in the release.
The National Park Service did not specify whether ExplorUS would be taking over the employee dormitories, the source of many complaints during Aramark’s tenure, nor did the agency say whether employees would still be living in the Rim Dormitory, which received a score of zero out of five in its 2023 inspection.
Neither park officials nor ExplorUS immediately responded to requests for more information Thursday.
In a statement released in March, ExplorUS CEO Frank Pikus said the company is “committed to working with the National Park Service to enhance and protect the visitor experience” at Crater Lake.
According to the company, ExplorUS runs hospitality operations at more than 50 locations across the U.S., including Muir Woods in California, Acadia National Park in Maine and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. It also operates in state parks, national forests and other outdoor recreation areas, including campgrounds in Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
ExplorUS previously said it plans to transition all current Crater Lake Hospitality employees to its company, and intends to offer all visitor services this summer. The company also intends to honor all reservations and deposits for future stays.
Information about available park services will be posted online at nps.gov/crla.
--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.
Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.